Jaguar XF 2.2d Premium Luxury

You know the date is coming. You dread it. it looms on your Outlook calendar like an upcoming deadline. Yes, 12 months have passed and the day has sadly dawned for me to reluctantly return our long-term Jaguar XF 2.2D and review the year’s ownership experience.

Our XF’s tenure started soon after the frugal 2.2- liter turbo diesel derivative was added to the model’s local line-up. Being an avid manual transmission man, I must admit that in the months that followed, the 2.2D’s newly developed eight-speed ZF automatic gradually softened me toward the virtues of a two-pedal auto, particularly when commuting in traffic. The eight-speed offers undetectable changes, intuitive responses and a Sport mode for added performance on demand. According To Jaguar, the transmission ratios are engineered to improve not only acceleration but economy, with cog-swops completed in just 200 milliseconds – that’s four times faster than the average person’s resting heartbeat.

Our XF’s tenure started soon after the frugal 2.2- liter turbo diesel derivative was added to the model’s local line-up

For a 1.7-ton vehicle, it has to be said the XF is one of the more frugal mid-size luxury saloons we’ve ever had in TopCar’s test fleet. The claim of being ‘the most economical Jaguar ever made’ saw scribes breaking distance and range consumption records the world over but we never came close to Jaguar’s claimed 5.4ℓ/100 km combined fuel consumption figure though. While the oil burner averaged around 6.7ℓ/100km at times on longer trips, its average consumption during the test period gradually decreased from its early 9.1ℓ/100km mark. When the Force-Fed diesel was barely 2,000km young - to its current 8.6ℓ/100km. Sadly, any financial gain in running costs from the reduction in fuel consumption over this time was sadly offset by the increase in the diesel price over the same period and we didn’t average much better than $0.11/km.

As the kilometers and months ticked by, the big cat’s luxury, quality and comfort remained its constant. The leather-swathed perches were soft and cosseting from the outset, heating up legs and back even on the Cape’s coldest winter mornings. Our initial angst towards the XF’s glossy burr walnut wood inlays even mellowed over time, although Jaguars are more tastefully dressed than most. in a market filled with German conservatism, the XF’s striking yet svelte Polaris White body curves and optional 18-inch lira alloys (19-inchers are also available) attracted a lot of rubber-necking over the year. On the open road its un-fussed cruising nature and compliant suspension endow it with a mature and relaxed dynamic disposition.

As the kilometers and months ticked by, the big cat’s luxury, quality and comfort remained its constant.

The only real negative that plagued the XF over the course of the year was the satellite navigation functionality on the seven-inch touch-screen. Compared with the likes of BMW’s iDrive And Audi’s MMI interfaces, this feature feels decidedly old school and outdated to the point when using it you can feel a bit like a granddad operating a home entertainment system for the first time. as my family and space requirements grew over the year, I found the XF’s capacious 500- liter boot capable of consuming all I’ve ever asked of it, from shopping bags to strollers and a camp cot. The Jaguar’s rivaling BMW 5 Series offers 20 liters more while the outgoing Mercedes-Benz E-Class is 40 liters bigger according to the manufacturer’s claims. However, if preferred, customers can opt for Jaguar’s tire inflation system rather than a spare, which releases a further 40 liters. I personally found the space was ample and preferred the peace of mind a space-saver wheel affords, a standard fitment on our premium luxury spec unit.

The only real negative that plagued the XF over the course of the year was the satellite navigation functionality on the seven-inch touch-screen.

At the end of the test, various dealers indicated that the trade price (what you will be offered by a dealer) on our 2012 model XF with just under 17,000 km on its Odo was $46,373, while the retail price (what a dealer or private seller will offer it for) was $50,989 which represents an $8,791 devaluation over the course of a year. That said, the XF was sublime throughout its time in our care and we would confidently recommend it to anyone in search of premium, quality offering in the luxury market.

That said, the XF was sublime throughout its time in our care and we would confidently recommend it to anyone in search of premium, quality offering in the luxury market.